ABSTRACT
The fourth century is one of the most culturally rich periods in Roman history. Eusebius in his Greek Ecclesiastical History and Rufinus, who translated it into Latin, loudly proclaimed the total victory of Christianity over the old gods of classical pagan culture between Constantine and Theodosius. Christianity had grown precisely because of its appeal to the excluded populations of the Empire. Christians believed that God had sent Christ to save the souls of the poor and the humble just as much as those of the rich and powerful. The Christian Church actively sought to include the excluded through its missionary activities, charitable works, inexpensive rituals, and communal worship. Appealing to the educated urban elites, Christian apologists argued that their religion was the guarantor of civilization against the 'barbarism' that seemed to be pressing in from all sides.
